Walking through modal pieces

bsullivan · #1 05-05-2006, 09:43 AM

Hey Todd,

I have both of your DVD's. Great stuff.

Sidebar: Anyone wondering if the DVD's are worth it? Yes they are. Extremely well done.

I know you'll likely deal with my question in an upcoming DVD but any advice or direction you could provide would be appreciated.

Walking through a modal piece like 'So What?'. Any tips, excercises, things I should focus on?

Thanks in advance,

Bill

Todd Johnson · #2 05-10-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsullivan

Hey Todd,

I have both of your DVD's. Great stuff.

Sidebar: Anyone wondering if the DVD's are worth it? Yes they are. Extremely well done.

I know you'll likely deal with my question in an upcoming DVD but any advice or direction you could provide would be appreciated.

Walking through a modal piece like 'So What?'. Any tips, excercises, things I should focus on?

Thanks in advance,

Bill

Hi Bill,

Hey, sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you..... slammed as usual. I'm blessed with work....PTL for that!!

I just finished putting together a "REALLY" nice answer to your question. It's basically a chapter in a book.... if I were writing one....on modal bass line construction. (BTW, this information will "eventually" be in a DVD etc......just in case anyone's wondering!?)

It's done in pdf. format.... but I'm not sure how to post it on my forum.

I have a call out to Paul Determan for some help.....

SO........as soon as I find out how to post the pdf ..... then I will!!!

I'll try to send it to you in an email etc... if I can figure out how to do that..... I think I know what to do..... ANYWAY... I still would like to post this for everybody else to check out as well.

Talk to you soon,

Pruitt · #3 05-10-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd Johnson

Hi Bill,

Hey, sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you..... slammed as usual. I'm blessed with work....PTL for that!!

I just finished putting together a "REALLY" nice answer to your question. It's basically a chapter in a book.... if I were writing one....on modal bass line construction. (BTW, this information will "eventually" be in a DVD etc......just in case anyone's wondering!?)

It's done in pdf. format.... but I'm not sure how to post it on my forum.

I have a call out to Paul Determan for some help.....

SO........as soon as I find out how to post the pdf ..... then I will!!!

I'll try to send it to you in an email etc... if I can figure out how to do that..... I think I know what to do..... ANYWAY... I still would like to post this for everybody else to check out as well.

Talk to you soon,

I'd definitely want to see that one too, Todd. Heh heh...

If you don't mind, once you find a way to post it on your website, could you post here and let us know it's there?

Thanks!!

**WillPlay4Food** · #4 05-10-2006, 01:46 PM

I'd like to see this .pdf as well.

Todd Johnson · #5 05-10-2006, 01:57 PM

I'm planning on posting it "here"..... on TalkBass.... for all to see etc.!!!

Will do as soon as I figure it out......or recieve instructions.

Play slow!

bsullivan · #6 05-10-2006, 02:27 PM

Thanks Todd.

Email sent.

Todd Johnson · #7 05-22-2006, 05:55 PM

Hi Guys,

Sorry I'm so slow.......

I HAVE NOT forgotten about this........I've just been swamped. PLUS.... I'm leaving in the morning (May 23rd) for a week. I'll be in the Bay Area for some Zon and Accugroove business....then I'll be in Sacramento for the Jazz Festival there. I'll be back home late on the 30th.

I'll attempt to get something posted when I get back......

Thanks again for your patience!

bsullivan · #8 05-22-2006, 06:08 PM

No sweat Todd. Thanks for the update.

I can't say I would have touched it just yet anyway.

May 13th my wife and I welcomed our first child into the world.

Joslyn Marie

Needless to say I haven't had much time to practice.....or sleep.

I do look forward to the pdf though.

Thanks again.

MikeBass · #9 05-22-2006, 06:11 PM

Hmm, I'd like to see this as well!

d8g3jdh · #10 05-23-2006, 04:37 PM

I, too, would like to see this, although I'm sure it's going to go right over my head.

**WillPlay4Food** · #11 05-23-2006, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsullivan

No sweat Todd. Thanks for the update.

I can't say I would have touched it just yet anyway.

May 13th my wife and I welcomed our first child into the world.

Joslyn Marie

Needless to say I haven't had much time to practice.....or sleep.

I do look forward to the pdf though.

Thanks again.

Congratulations! That's great news!

Todd Johnson · #12 06-05-2006, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsullivan

Hey Todd,

I have both of your DVD's. Great stuff.

Sidebar: Anyone wondering if the DVD's are worth it? Yes they are. Extremely well done.

I know you'll likely deal with my question in an upcoming DVD but any advice or direction you could provide would be appreciated.

Walking through a modal piece like 'So What?'. Any tips, excercises, things I should focus on?

Thanks in advance,

Bill

Hi Bill,

Sorry this has taken me so long to "finally" get done. Thanks for your patience.

Well, here goes..........This attachment "should" answer your Modal bass questions....or at least give you a good start!!

Play slow

bsullivan · #13 06-07-2006, 12:59 PM

That's a huge help Todd. Thanks.

Between this and trying to transcribe Paul Chambers line I may actually get somewhere with this.

Now, just to improve my swing (it's tough you know when you spent so many years headbangin')

Thanks again,

Bill

Todd Johnson · #14 06-07-2006, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsullivan

That's a huge help Todd. Thanks.

Between this and trying to transcribe Paul Chambers line I may actually get somewhere with this.

Now, just to improve my swing (it's tough you know when you spent so many years headbangin')

Thanks again,

Bill

Bill,

You're totally welcome!! Happy to help!!

...

Lorenzini · #15 06-07-2006, 10:21 PM

Todd, this is great advice for bass players who aren't familiar with V-I, II-V-I, etc and really looks like you're a superior teacher.

tkozal · #16 06-08-2006, 09:50 AM

Nice little piece.

And to add a big +1. I auditioned for a spot in a jazz trio many years ago. This was my first jazz gig after years of rock. Well, we played "So What", and also "Impressions".

I got the gig because:

"You are the first bass player who didn't mess up the form of So What"

Lorenzini · #17 06-08-2006, 04:48 PM

Haha wow, good story.

Todd, do you have anything in writing on how to walk using modes? That way superimposing changes along with playing modes would seem to be the best of both worlds.

Todd Johnson · #18 06-08-2006, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

Haha wow, good story.

Todd, do you have anything in writing on how to walk using modes? That way superimposing changes along with playing modes would seem to be the best of both worlds.

I have it all written down in various forms....but this is the stuff that's going to be on my next DVD.

I'm hoping to film it sometime this summer.

Do you have a specific chord progressions you're struggling with??? Let me know and I'll be happy to help you with it as much as I can.

Cool............

steveb98 · #19 06-09-2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd Johnson

I have it all written down in various forms....but this is the stuff that's going to be on my next DVD.

I'm hoping to film it sometime this summer.

I need some good II-V ideas to work on. If we buy you lots of caffeinated beverages maybe the DVD will come out sooner.

Bassist4Life · #20 06-10-2006, 08:03 AM

Todd,

Thanks for this lesson. I remember seeing this one some time ago (on your website I think...). I made good use of this lesson on my 1st jazz combo gig last Wednesday. It worked like a charm.

I always get a little nervous when we play/practice So What. I mean, it starts with ME. I hear, "Whenever you're ready Joe." During the gig on Wednesday I played the head a little too slow. It didn't seem slow until I got to walking... I kinda' wished that I could start it over to pick things up a bit. Oh well. I'll make it cook next time.

Thanks again for your lesson(s). You're making us all better players.

Joe